Best known by the brand name “Pop Rocks,” popping candy fizzle and sizzle on the tongue thanks to a little science. Here’s how the candy wizards make them. Step #1: First of all, apart from its minor explosive capabilities, popping candy rocks are merely just little pebble versions of a fruit-flavored hard candy—they’re pebble-sized versions […]
Uncle John knows pretty much everything—and if he doesn’t, he puts one of his many associates on the case. So go ahead, in the comments below the article, ask away. Why does the combination of orange juice and toothpaste taste so notoriously terrible? It doesn’t seem like those two substances would ever cross paths—toothpaste hangs […]
For every friendly and chatty Ronald McDonald, there’s a creepy, stoned-faced Burger King, or for every innocuous Maytag repairman, there’s a Kool-Aid Man who comes smashing through the wall. Here are some more ill-advised company mascots. Cadbury Creme Eggs Cadbury Creme Eggs have occasionally served as the spokes objects for, well, Cadbury Creme Eggs. The […]
Have you found the time this summer to get out to the woods and make yourself a s’more? In honor of National S’mores Day, here’s the story of how they were invented, along with some background on some of the essential ingredients for the mighty s’more. S’MORES It’s not like one person put chocolate and […]
Over the last 20 years or so, more and more Americans have decided to cut down or eliminate meet from their diets. Vegetarianism is mainstream, and fast food companies have tried to meet those dietary demands by offering meat-free items alongside their usual fare of burgers and fried chicken. It hasn’t always worked out. The […]
The beloved chef, food writer, and TV host who brought the world—and its flavors—into our homes has passed away at the age of 61. Here’s a look back on the life of a man who lived with No Reservations. Don’t Eat Before You Read This After working for years in some of New York’s best […]
Summer is almost upon us, which means one thing: the excuse to eat ice cream every day. Can you find somewhere in your strict schedule of chocolate, vanilla, and mint chip to try one of these oddball ice cream flavors? Lobster ice cream Maine’s most famous export is lobster, but the people who live there […]
Selling a lifestyle and a brand and customer loyalty…but it only seems to work with the beer itself. Budweiser Black Crown Tired and alarmed at how “microbrews” or “craft brews”—strongly flavored, potent, regionally-produced beers—were cutting into their sales, Budweiser introduced its own craft brew-like product in early 2013. Like those upstarts Budweiser Black Crown was […]
…and other big, brazen thefts of huge amounts of very specific foods. The Nutella heist Nutella—a mixture of ground hazelnuts, chocolate, and a lot of sugar—is peanut butter’s sassy European cousin. People on both sides of the Atlantic are wild about it, particularly in Western Europe, and they’ll apparently do anything to get more of […]
Today is Eat What You Want Day…but your doctor would probably advise you to skip most of these fast-food gut-bombs anyway. Sweet bird There’s more than one way to bread and fry a chicken. You can dredge pieces in flour, or corn flakes, for example. Or, you could go to Popeye’s and have some sweet […]
True fame isn’t getting your name in lights or your handprints on the Hollywood Walk of Fame—it’s having a drink named in your honor. Arnold Palmer Arnold Palmer has two legacies: The late golfer is one of the greatest to ever play the game, with a remarkable 95 professional tournament wins, including the Masters four […]
The 2018 baseball season has begun, which means it’s time for a roundup of the weirdest and most delicious sounding new concessions available at America’s major league stadiums. Spec-Tater SunTrust Park is where the Atlanta Braves play, and it’s also the only place where spectators can buy a Spec-Tater. It’s a big baked potato stabbed […]
Here’s a look into the history and origins of the lauded Mexican fast food item. A burrito is a Mexican or Mexican-inspired food, and since Spanish is the main language in that country, burrito is a Spanish word. It translates to English literally as “little donkey”—burro means donkey and the ito makes it diminutive. What’s […]
Today is March 14, or “3/14,” which are the first three digits of that almost-magical ratio called pi. Sure, we could talk about math and circles…but looking up “pi” just made everyone here at Portable Press hungry for “pie” (and pie facts). Origins of the Word What’s the origin of the word pie, to describe […]
On March 6, 1912, the National Biscuit Company—later shortened to Nabisco—filed for a trademark on its chocolate cookie developed at a factory in New York City. That cookie: the iconic Oreo. Here are some facts about the cookie jar staple. Good for Vegans! People who try to follow a natural and organic diet eschew Oreos […]
It’s that time of year again—when the Girl Scouts show up at your front door determined to ruin your New Year’s Resolution to eat less sweets. Here’s a little about the wonderful world of Girl Scout Cookies. The Beginning: 1922 Girl Scout Cookies began in earnest in 1922. The director of the Girl Scouts of […]
Do you like extremely innovative beers? Do you consider yourself environmentally conscious? Well…urine luck! (And if you’re not a big fan of beer, well, then this probably isn’t going to be the beer that grabs you.) Roskilde Music Festival In 2015, more than 100,000 music fans traveled to Denmark for the Roskilde Music Festival. The […]
You could watch a movie and eat while you watch—popcorn, candy, and such. Or you could taste the movie itself at one of these theme restaurants based on popular films. Caddy Shack The World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Florida, is home to Caddy Shack, a restaurant whose theme is the biggest golf movie of […]
